Why Should You Pay with a Credit Card?

If you are a homeowner, you know how important it is to keep up with your mortgage payments. Since your home is likely one of the most valuable assets you have, keeping up with the mortgage is crucial. If you are interested in paying off your home plus gaining extra cash, you should consider some ways to make having a mortgage work for you. Paying a mortgage with a credit card can make your life easier.

Mortgage companies will often allow you to pay your mortgage with a bank account or a debit card. Paying your mortgage with a rewards credit card can potentially provide you with a lot of free cash at the end of the month. It also means that you can often wait one pay period to actually pay it off, which can free up money to put toward new home technology and upgrades each month.

If you own your own business or if you are paid uneven amounts of money biweekly, it is easier to break up the mortgage payments with a credit card. Most mortgage companies only allow for a single payment to be made for at least the monthly amount. By charging the mortgage to the credit card, you can make the required monthly payment. Once that payment is made, you may pay off the balance with weekly payments. This way you incur no fee to pay the mortgage off weekly.

A Word of Caution

Making a card payment with a credit card may raise eyebrows simply because of the interest rate that might be involved with the credit card. Some of the other red flags you should consider before using your card to pay your mortgage include the following:

• Extra processing fees
• High interest rates
• Effect on credit

For those who have rewards debit and credit cards, this is a great way to get more money flowing into the home. As a homeowner, you could take advantage of the tax write-off, as well as the credit card rewards that can come with paying your mortgage with a credit card.

Options for Paying Your Mortgage With a Credit Card

Unfortunately, you can’t always just pay your mortgage with a credit card. Sometimes, you have to go through third-party payment systems. Some of the most popular services available include the following:

• ChargeSmart (TIO) – charges a fee for a payment, which is around 2% of the amount paid
• Plastiq – similar service with a 2.5% fee, but you can try finding a deal with a temporary lower fee 

Is It Worth It?

Considering the fees associated with using your credit card to make such a large payment, it makes sense only if you need to meet spending bonus criteria, or if you need a 20-30 day break to use available funds for other purchases. You can also save some money on interest in case if you pay your balance in full every month.

Even if you do avoid paying interest and earn extra cash back and other rewards with these payments, it isn’t always enough to cover the extra fees you will be charged with the payment.